Marathon effort from five-time fundraiser

Corporal David Wilson is no stranger to a sporting challenge but this weekend he stepped things up and took part in the Edinburgh Marathon all in aid of the Fund!

David, 32, who works as an armourer for 1(F) Squadron was deployed to Afghanistan in 2014 when he took up running as a way of keeping active. On his return to the UK he signed up to do his first 10k for the RAF Benevolent Fund. A week later he completed the Great Scottish Run followed by the Inverness Half Marathon, both for the charity.

Having been unsuccessful in the London Marathon ballot, David, who is based at RAF Lossiemouth, contacted the Fund expressing an interest in taking on another challenge but this time, bigger! Now after months of hard work and training, David has completed the 26.2 mile run around the Scottish capital.

David says: "I started completing various challenges for the RAF Benevolent Fund and I just kept going. I've done a few 10ks and also some cycle challenges and now the Edinburgh marathon.

"I completed the race in four and a half hours and felt really good until mile 20. That's when my legs started to get really stiff but the support from the RAF Benevolent Fund cheerers kept me going along the way! Right at the end I saw my wife and daughters and my five-year-old, Poppy, jumped over the barriers and finished the race with me - she was also wearing a Fund t-shirt.

"I don’t have a personal connection with the Fund, other than being in the RAF myself; I just figured that I might need them some day. I love that the charity supports the whole RAF family, from the youngest child to the oldest veteran."